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2016 See How We See Annual Report

A FOCUS ON MEN'S HEALTH
Men are less likely than women to see a doctor, research shows. And that gender gap is even wider when it comes to preventive health services such as screenings and immunizations. Since September 2015, University Health System has partnered with KENS-TV to produce Real Men Wear Gowns, a series of stories designed to raise awareness about men's health. The project has covered a new topic almost every week, with recent episodes focusing on heart health, stroke symptoms, avoiding hearing loss, preventing heatstroke, seeking help for alcohol abuse and staying safe in the water. Three half-hour specials have aired, featuring panel discussions by physicians on topics such as cholesterol and heart disease. All of that attention has not only encouraged men - and those who care for them - to be proactive about their health, the project has also spotlighted University Health System's expert physicians and many services. '"I would have probably not been on this earth if my wife wouldn't have made me go to her doctor," said William Huth, 39, one of the patients featured in the series. Mr. Hurth, a 39-year-father of three, had been suffering stomach pains but resisted seeing a doctor about it for two years. It turned out to be a large tumor blocking his large intestine. '"Get checked if you have problems," he said. Each episode typically includes a patient willing to share his story and the patients physician. Both University Medicine Associate and UT Health - San Antonio physicians are featured. "It’s something we can do together as a community to try to educate men on the importance of taking charge of their health and whatever the barriers are that prevent them from getting these types of screenings," said Leni Kirkman, senior vice president for strategic communications and patient relations, in the program’s first episode. 'We really want to work with KENS to break those down.'" Episodes in the series can be found on the Real Men Wear Gowns website at WearTheGown.com. University Health System has a history of innovative approaches to improving men's health. Our grant-funded program that uses navigators and incentives to encourage more Hispanic men to undergo colonoscopies, for example, has gotten a lot of media attention. The Real Men Wear Gowns website also includes a link to our heart health assessment tool, along with a number of other disease risk tools.